You can check reviews of all these restaurants in Tripadvisor and other apps, but here are my personal choices:
In Benissa:
Casa Cantó: Mediterranean cuisine, exquisite rice dishes and “putxero de polp” (soup-like octopus)! Love their Modernist floor tiles and views!
In Denia (where I better know since I grew up here):
The gastronomical tradition of Dénia and the Marina Alta region dates back to antiquity. In 2005 Dénia was designated Creativity City by UNESCO. These are some of my favourite places:
Les Rotes beach, to have lunch or dinner after a walk on the seaside promenade or having bath in the beatiful coves:
L’Eriçò del Trampolí: Outstanding tapas and rice dishes. I love their “tellinas”, baby cuttlefish, coques, croquettes, and all kind of rices (“arròs a banda” or “arròs del senyoret” are my favourites). At night or midday after swimming or a good walk.
Hotel La Raconà in Les Rotes beach. Rices dishes and yummy tapas.
In Denia city:
Tomassets (Loreto street): Great tapas and rice dishes. I like their croquettes, «sèpia a la vidriola” (inkfish cooked with onions), “coques de dacsa amb gamba amb bleda” (corn tortillas with chard and tiny river shrimps, very typical from Denia), “bull amb ceba” (tuna’s intestines)…
Ca la Pepa Teresa (Loreto street): Top tapas and rice dishes. Their croquettes made of cot and potatoes are amazing. Grilled sardines and tuna are recommended, as well as great salads.
La Seu (Loreto Street): More elaborated cuisine for special occasions.
El Baret de Miquel (Quevedo street): Miquel Ruiz is a chef who used to have a Michelin star and decide to follow his own path. Here his story (in Spanish). Everything is really original and a piece of art. However, the place is too full and you need to book months in advance.
Peix i Brasses: Tapas and first quality meat and fish in Denia’s port. Downstairs, there is a budget menu, upstairs à la carte.
Al Forn (Mariana Pineda square), coques and pizza. Ideal with children.
La Jijonenca (Marqués de Campo street) makes artesanal ice creams.
Valor (Marqués de Campo street) is the best place to try Spanish “chocolate con churros”.
In Las Marinas, Denia sand beach
El Poblet by prestigious chef Quique Dacosta, gourmet, with a three Michelin star.
Primera Línia in the frontline Les Marines beach: Tapas and excellent rices dishes.
Federico restaurant in Les Marines road. Rice dishes, fresh fish and good starters.
In La Xara :
Bar Llàcer (about 10 euros): my favourite place to eat “coques”. Sorry, this is not a pizza. You can try them plain (means with olive olive and salt), with anchovies or typical sausages, onion, peas, chards (my favourite) or “tomacat”, a typical tomato sauce made of tomatoes (of course) and garlic. It can also include peppers, onion and aubergines. We, Valencians, like to eat them with olives and other pickles or grapes (seasonal). You can only eat them for breakfast or brunch. Around 9.30 a.m. is the best time to enjoy them. If you go after 10.30 probably, they are finished, if you go before maybe not ready.
Tapes i Vins. More sophisticated tapas in La Xara. Phone: +34 699 90 70 51
In Gata:
Pizzeria La Cosa Nostra: Pizzas and Mediterranean dishes.
In Calp:
El Cantal, Baidal or Hydra. Fresh fish and rices dishes
In Altea (friends’ choices)
Hotel San Miguel, excellent rice dishes.
Xef Pirata, burgers and tapas.
Ca Joan, for quality beef meat.
In Benidorm:
La Gambita, fresh fish from their own fishmonger’s. A must in Benidorm!
In Sagra:
Un cuiner a l’escoleta: Very pleasant place specially in summer with children, besides to the public swimming pool)
In Xàbia:
Los Remos in El Arenal beach, good views, try their rice with fish.
Volta & Volta in town.
El Gaucho (on the road to Jesus Pobre): Best meat in the area, they say.
BonAmb. Gourmet. 2 Michelin stars.
¡Que aproveche!